Danny's Music Spot

Danny backed into his dream job. It was luck. He has owned a music store for the past 30 years but it didn’t start out that way. His family came up with a business plan and, almost by default, Danny eventually took over. Danny was always a working musician and has benefited greatly by being a music store owner. Still, he looks forward for the day when his current lease is up and he can scale his involvement to a manageable size.

Working with landlords and leaseholders is a constant pain. There are constant time-consuming fights about the most seemingly insignificant details. It drives Danny and other business owners crazy.

I asked Danny why he doesn’t take more time off. He laughed, apologized, then got serious. He can’t leave the store because he can’t fully trust the personnel and constantly worries about how the store is doing.

Although Danny has a big stack of resumes, it is very difficult to find the right people to work in the store. People, especially musicians, are difficult to evaluate. By default, you need musicians; people who will work for less salary that most places. Sales staff must be able to demonstrate the merchandise. They must be able to play music and explain the technology behind complicated electronic equipment. In Danny’s case, since he holds a pawnbroker’s license, personnel must also carefully evaluate used equipment and price purchased equipment in a way that produces high turnover that creates profit.

Musicians are not inherently go-getters in the business world. When Danny finds someone who is competent in most aspects of running the store, he counts his blessings and hopes they stay for a while. There are a few who can become the type of general manager that Danny can trust to run the store while he is away. One worker would look for things to do, if he wasn’t waiting on customers, he would grab the Windex and clean something.

In terms of customer relationship, Danny says that two out of a thousand customers will make you want to quit. This business brings in lots of folks who are looking for value in a musical instrument but every once in a while certain customer demands will get the best of you.

Danny’s business is subject to outside influences including the economy and the musical instrument industry. The industry has moved to the Internet where buyers and sellers need no intermediary. eBay and other online auction places have taken a chunk out of local sellers’ business. Chain companies like Guitar Center has also changed the way musicians buy and sell equipment.

Suppliers and other business have a mind-set that you are like them. That you talk and act the way they do. This isn’t so says Danny.